February 18, 2025
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL
7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council
The municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met with the following members present:
Barbara Laprade, Mayor
Mark Wilkes, Vice Mayor
Scott Fisher, Conner Francis and Eugene Moorefield, Council Members
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Robert Kolich, Chief of Police
Craig Hughes, Town Manager
Tripp Isenhour, Town Attorney
Absent: Cynthia Johnson
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
MAYOR’S COMMENTS/UPDATES
Mayor LaPrade reviewed the newly instituted town council meeting guidelines again. She said that since the last meeting, there has been a number of individuals interested in the Town of Brookneal and information will be forthcoming about property acquisitions and so on.
She said in a previous meeting, the possibility of a community calendar has been discussed in which citizens, businesses and organizations would be able to inform the town of upcoming events. She said this would help those planning events to have a source to check to avoid duplicating dates.
She said that an alert system has also been discussed and a company that can provide that for town residents has been contacted for more information. She said the system would be to alert town residents when major events arise. She said pending budget requirements and approval by council, that is possibly forthcoming.
She said that based on property acquisitions, she wants to fill the vacant planning commission seat soon. She said they will be making notifications and then Council will approve that person.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Conner Francis, seconded by Scott Fisher, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the February 18, 2025, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following addition: 11A) Town Attorney Comments
MINUTES
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Conner Francis, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the minutes for the January 14, 2025, joint committee meeting and Town Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor LaPrade asked that the February 2025 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Conner Francis, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of January 15, 2025, through February 18, 2025, in the amount of $31,654.29.
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR KENNETH JENNINGS
Mayor LaPrade presented the following resolution to former mayor Kenneth Jennings.
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
IN HONOR OF
KENNETH JENNINGS
WHEREAS: Kenneth Jennings, has served the citizens of the Town of Brookneal for two years as Mayor beginning in January of 2023 and ending in December of 2024; and
WHEREAS: Mr. Jennings represented Brookneal at the Regional Airport Authority; and
WHEREAS: Mr. Jennings has been present at 99% of all Council meetings, taking his oath and commitment seriously to the citizens of the Town of Brookneal; and
NOW, THEREFORE I, Barbara LaPrade, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Honorable Mayor of the Town of Brookneal, do hereby affirm that Tuesday, February 11, 2025, shall be recognized as a day of appreciation in the honor of Mr. Kenneth Jennings; and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that this “RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION” be recorded in the permanent records of the Town of Brookneal as a testimony of the Town’s gratitude to Kenneth for his service and dedication.
Barbara LaPrade
Mayor, Town of Brookneal
POLICE REPORT
Chief Robert Kolich, presented the police report for January 2025. He said that of the 120 calls for service in January, 108 were answered by the Brookneal Police Department and 12 by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews presented a written report which contained the following items:
- The depredation permit for the vultures has been renewed. He said he would give it to the police department and animal control.
- He said the lights at the ballpark have been repaired. He said Elliott Electric would be back to replace some bulbs and do some maintenance on a couple of poles. He said the Dixie Girls would be hosting all stars this year.
- He said on February 5, Southern Corrosion sent out a crew to replace a hole in the field tube in the downtown tank.
- He said he is in the process of getting paperwork to VDH for their approval for the best site for wells in Brookneal. He said that there were 2 locations identified, one at the ballpark and one at the Hunter Road water tank.
- He said the maintenance department completed water line repairs on Daniel Street on 1/19, on Terry Road 1/21 and 1/23, on Smith Street on 1/24 and on Central Street on 2/13.
- He said the only area that lost power during the last ice storm was residents on the end of Juniper Cliff Road. He said the water plant had a backup generator to supply the town with water.
TOWN MANAGER COMMENTS
Town Manager Craig Hughes updated the Council on a few items. He said that the maintenance crew cleaned out the Kersey building. He said he has received a bid on the ceiling repair in the food bank area of the community building and that will be starting in the next 3 weeks. He said that Jeff Carpenter talked to the Food Lion manager about the Amish request for a hitching post in the area. He said Jeff presented a letter of request to the manager, and he has submitted it to headquarters. They should have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.
TOWN ATTORNEY COMMENTS
Tripp Isenhour said that he would be here for the Council meetings more often with growth and development coming along.
APPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUAL TO FILL COUNCIL VACANCY FOR TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025
Mayor LaPrade noted that once this appointment takes place, this will only be to fill the position until December 31, 2025. She said that in the fall of this year during the November election, a special election will be held and that person elected at that time will fill the remainder of her Council term which will end on December 31, 2026. Upon motion by Conner Francis, seconded by Scott Fisher, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to nominate Crystal Travis to fill the vacancy on Council for the term through December 31, 2025.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Francis Aye
Mr. Fisher Aye
Vice Mayor Wilkes Aye
Mr. Moorefield Aye
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical Development Committee Chairperson Mark Wilkes said that Mr. Hughes was working on the community building repair list, and that he would keep the Council updated.
Mayor LaPrade said that the economic development committee had a gentleman come in to look at the old Wells Fargo building in hopes of converting that into a hotel. She said the man has posed some questions to the committee, and the committee will be exploring answers to his questions. She said the Campbell County Economic Development grant writer is working on the community vitality grant that the Council approved last month. She said she would keep everyone updated on that as well.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Francis said that Juniper Clif Road was hit the worst during the ice/snowstorm with power outages; several residents were land locked in their homes due to downed trees. He said that the Brookneal Volunteer Fire Department marathon is April 5, 2025. He said the Campbell Connects group is meeting in Brookneal on February 27, 2025, at the community building. He said that Centra executives have reached out to him and expressed interest in having a meeting. He said that a roundtable session with Centra will be held on February 27, 2025 at the town hall. Mr. Francis said that he had talked with Mr. Isenhour about getting some feedback to possibly help these meetings along including remote participation where council members are out of town. He also said with some parliamentary structures to help the meetings move along quickly. Lastly, he said that he distributed some Brookneal business directories that were done by the Community Alliance. He said the funds raised from that project will go towards building a love sign in Brookneal; he said over $2,000 was raised.
Councilperson Fisher thanked Mr. Crews for helping the Brookneal Baptist Church with their plumbing issue. He said he went above and beyond to try to resolve the issue.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Conner Francis, seconded by Scott Fisher, and unanimously carried, Mayor LaPrade announced that the February 18, 2025 Council meeting was adjourned.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
Barbara LaPrade: Mayor
